Chrysler Group Officially Launches Jeep Patriot

Chrysler Group officially launched the Jeep Patriot yesterday with a flurry of press releases. Although Patriot news and reviews have been picking up lately, yesterday was the "official" launch day.

Here's the first of many press releases:

The all-new 2007 Jeep(R) Patriot is hitting off-road trails just as the compact sport-utility vehicle (SUV) market is booming in the United States, gas prices continue to fluctuate and consumer interest shifts toward more fuel-efficient vehicles. With Patriot, the Jeep brand is prepared to capitalize on this growing segment by giving enthusiasts another true Jeep 4x4 that delivers the packaging and functionality of an SUV with the performance, handling, fuel economy and price of a compact car or small pickup. With a starting U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $14,985 (including $560 destination), Jeep Patriot also provides a new entry-level price point to the Jeep brand.

"The Jeep brand's product offensive achieves a milestone with Jeep Patriot, an all-new compact SUV that leverages Jeep's legendary 4x4 leadership," said John Plecha, Director - Jeep Marketing and Global Communications. "In the past year, we solidified the Jeep brand's foundation with the bigger, more powerful all-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler - the most capable off-road vehicle in the world -- while stretching the brand to reach new customers with Jeep Compass. Now we introduce the Jeep Patriot, which delivers true 4x4 capability and a new entry-level price point for the Jeep brand."

Jeep Patriot will compete in the compact SUV segment, which is expected to grow considerably in the next decade, giving the Jeep brand the opportunity to grow with it. Annual compact SUV volume in the United States for the 2006 calendar year was 520,045 units, up from 387,528 units in 2005. The compact SUV segment is expected to continue growing to more than 814,000 units by 2016.

The all-new Jeep Patriot is designed to appeal to single and married educated professionals in their early 20s to early 40s who earn a median income of $65,000. Fifty-five percent have a college education, and 55-60 percent are male. They are upwardly mobile, confident, independent, rugged individuals who enjoy the outdoors. Safety, security and the confidence that comes with Jeep 4x4 capability rank high on their priorities. They like the Jeep brand and want a vehicle that is unique. With its classic Jeep styling and best-in-class off-road capability, Patriot is designed and engineered to meet their needs.

"Jeep Patriot is designed to appeal to youthful customers and people with active lifestyles who may have always wanted a Jeep vehicle but, until now, may not have been able to afford one," Plecha added. "Patriot has all the credibility and cachet of the Jeep brand at a very affordable price."

EXPANDING THE LINEUP

Jeep Patriot is the gateway to the Jeep brand globally, priced less than Jeep Compass, Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Liberty. The newest Jeep vehicle on the market is available in Jeep Patriot Sport and Jeep Patriot Limited models. Both are available in the United States with a 4x2 front-wheel drive system, a Freedom Drive I 4x4 system and a Freedom Drive II Off-road Package.

The Jeep Patriot Sport has a starting U.S. MSRP of $14,985. The U.S. MSRP for the Jeep Patriot Sport with the available Freedom Drive I 4x4 system is $16,735. The U.S. MSRP for the Jeep Patriot Sport equipped with the available Freedom Drive II Off-road Package is $19,175. All prices include $560 destination.

The Jeep Patriot Limited 4x2 model has a starting U.S. MSRP of $19,985. A Jeep Patriot Limited with the Freedom Drive I 4x4 system has a starting U.S. MSRP of $21,735. The Jeep Patriot Limited equipped with the Freedom Drive II Off-road Package has a starting U.S. MSRP of $23,530. All prices include $560 destination.

Optional features on Jeep Patriot Sport include four-wheel-drive capability, through either Freedom Drive I or the Freedom Drive II Off-road Package (which includes CVT2L with low-ratio capability, a full-size spare tire, skid plates, tow hooks, fog lamps and manual seat height adjuster), a second-generation CVT2, front-seat-mounted side air bags that supplement standard side-curtain air bags, premium cloth low-back bucket seats with YES Essentials(R) premium seat fabric, air conditioning, engine block heater, AM/FM radio with six-disc CD player and MP3 CD play capability, deep-tinted sunscreen glass, Tire and Wheel Group (which is required with Freedom Drive II Off-road Package and includes 17-inch all-terrain Outlined White Letter [OWL] tires and aluminum wheels), Power Equipment Group (which includes power windows with driver one-touch down feature, power fold-away mirrors, remote keyless entry and speed-sensitive power locks) and a 458-watt Nine-speaker Premium Sound Group (which includes six Boston Acoustics speakers with subwoofer and amplifier and two articulating speakers packaged in the liftgate. When the liftgate is open, the speakers can swing down from the trim panel to face rearward for tailgating and other activities). A 2.0-liter four- cylinder World Engine coupled with CVT2 also is available on front-wheel-drive Jeep Patriot Sport models.

An available Special Equipment Group on the Jeep Patriot Sport model includes air conditioning, deep-tinted sunscreen glass, map and dome reading lamps, removable/rechargeable interior cargo lamp, 115-volt auxiliary power outlet and passenger assist handles, a recline feature for standard 60/40 rear seats and a Power Equipment Group (which includes power windows with a driver one-touch-down feature, speed-sensitive power locks, power fold-away exterior mirrors and Remote Keyless Entry). The U.S. MSRP for the Jeep Compass Sport 4x2 with this Special Equipment Group is $17,335. The U.S. MSRP for the Jeep Compass Sport 4x4 with this Special Equipment Group is $19,085. Both prices include $560 destination.

With a starting U.S. MSRP of $19,985, the standard Jeep Patriot Limited is a 4x2 model that features a 172-horsepower 2.4-liter World Engine coupled with a standard five-speed manual transaxle. An optional CVT2 or an optional CVT2L also are available on the Jeep Patriot Limited. The U.S. MSRP for the Jeep Patriot Limited with the Freedom Drive I 4x4 system is $21,735. The U.S. MSRP for the Jeep Patriot Limited with the Freedom Drive II Off-road Package is $23,530. Both prices include $560 destination.